PSC approves Washington Gas's 2025 STRIDE-3 project list, asks for project-level paving cost spreadsheet

Staff presented Washington Gas's calendar-year 2025 STRIDE-3 project list and recommended approval at the Dec. 18 meeting. The filing includes 157 projects across STRIDE programs with a combined estimated cost of roughly $53 million, including carryover projects from 2024.

Staff told the commission it reviewed the projects and calculations and found them consistent with the public utility judge's proposed order requiring a reduction in the five-year program budget. However staff requested the company provide a project-by-project paving-cost Excel spreadsheet to support staff's review; staff said it had received an updated paving-cost figure from the company only the day before and asked the commission to order Washington Gas to provide the spreadsheet.

Commissioners pressed staff and the company on whether staff had adequate information to judge prudence at reconciliation. Staff said it was comfortable recommending approval of the 2025 list while continuing to seek the more granular paving-cost data and expected to address any issues at reconciliation.

After discussion the commission voted to approve the calendar-year 2025 STRIDE-3 project list and accept the proposed STRIDE surcharge to become effective January 1, 2025.